In a significant crackdown, authorities in Gautam Buddh Nagar have uncovered illegal mining operations along the Yamuna riverbed in Noida's Raipur Khadar village, leading to a hefty penalty and the registration of a police case.
Inspection Uncovers Unauthorised Extraction
A joint field inspection team, comprising the deputy collector of GB Nagar, the Dadri tehsildar, and the district mining officer, discovered clear evidence of unauthorised extraction of minor minerals from the riverbed in Sector 126. The inspection was prompted by specific complaints regarding the activities at the site.
The investigation revealed that the illegal mining occurred within a sand mining lease area of 58.969 hectares granted to M/s Balaji Enterprises. Officials found that mining was being conducted in a partially submerged portion of the riverbed, which is a direct violation of the permitted lease conditions.
Legal Action and Penalty Imposed
Following the discovery, the district administration took swift action. A financial penalty of Rs 5 lakh was imposed on the leaseholder for the violations. Furthermore, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the local police station.
The FIR names the leaseholder's representative, Sanjay Pandey, along with other unidentified miners. They have been booked under Sections 21 and 4 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. District Mining Officer Utkarsh Tripathi clarified that while the company held a valid five-year lease for ordinary sand mining since 2021, the activity in the river stream was illegal.
The complaint states that the actions breach the Uttar Pradesh Minor Mineral (Concession) Rules, 2021, and the specific terms of the lease deed. These rules govern all aspects of minor mineral mining, including lease allotment, operational conditions, environmental safeguards, and prescribe penalties for offences like illegal mining and transportation.
Part of a Larger Crackdown on Mining Violations
This incident is not isolated. Utkarsh Tripathi revealed that in December 2025 alone, the mining department seized 33 vehicles involved in the illegal transport of minor minerals across areas like Jewar, Dadri, Dankaur, and Kasna. Fines totalling Rs 12,39,730 were recovered from offenders during that period.
The crackdown aligns with heightened scrutiny of mining activities along the Yamuna. Last month, a National Green Tribunal (NGT)-ordered inspection of the floodplains between Delhi and Ghaziabad found large-scale violations. A joint committee report dated December 19 highlighted that miners were operating beyond legal boundaries, constructing illegal ramps, and using heavy machinery within the river's flow.
The report also accused miners of ignoring the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rules, continuing operations even during periods when all mining activities were banned to control pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
The recent actions in Raipur Khadar signal the administration's intent to enforce mining laws strictly, aiming to protect the fragile riverbed ecosystem from unauthorised and destructive extraction activities.
